New Rochelle eyes waterfront site for park space

A former Con Ed substation site along the Long Island Sound in New Rochelle is now being looked at for public park space. Residents give their reaction to the plan.
Mark Vergari/lohud

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A former Con Ed substation site along the Long Island Sound in New Rochelle is now being looked at for public park space. Here, the space is seen from Echo Avenue near the Masonry Depot, June 28, 2017.(Photo: Mark Vergari/The Journal News)Buy Photo

The 2.55-acre site on Echo Avenue, adjacent to Farragut Circle, has been vacant for more than two decades, according to officials. It was the former site of a Con Edison substation building. Officials said contaminants have been removed from the site, which has been top-soiled and grassed.

Aragon said it's the "closest waterfront access to downtown," as it sits just blocks away from the city center. He said it would likely be left as a grassy, open space for residents.

Giovanni Cucullo, owner of nearby Pop's Espresso Bar, said residents have been clamoring for more park space with waterfront access for boating and recreation. He said he'd like to see the city seek out more open space, opposed to building mixed-use developments along the shore.

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Giovanni Cucullo, from Pop's Espresso Bar, talks about New Rochelle's plans to turn the former Con Ed substation site along the Long Island Sound in New Rochelle into public park space. (Photo: Mark Vergari/The Journal News)

"That’s the main issue that’s going on in New Rochelle that I hear from my customers and local people that have been here awhile," Cucullo said. "They’d like to see a balance where it’s friendly to the community and it won’t turn into the extreme.”

One of those planned waterfront developments, called Pratt Landing at Echo Bay, would be built directly across the Sound inlet from the Con Ed site. Pratt Landing would include a mix of about 450 housing units, 100,000 square feet of retail, and 100-200 hotel rooms. The property would also feature a waterfront esplanade and more than three acres of open space.

The site, which is still owned by Con Ed, is currently zoned for Planned Waterfront Development. Aragon proposed an amendment to City Council this month to change the zoning to the Recreation Open Space category.